Saluting the Sun ~ Surya Namaskar

That most familiar of asana sequences, Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is as rich in symbolic and mythic overtones as it is in physical benefits. In many cultures, light has long been a symbol of consciousness and self-illumination. Our primary source of light is, of course, the sun. Moreover, since everything that exists originates from the sun, as Alain Danizlou wrote in The Myths and Gods of India, it “must contain the potentiality of all that is to be known.”

One of the means of honouring the sun is through the dynamic asana sequence Surya Namaskar (better known as Sun Salutation). The Sanskrit word namaskar stems from namas, which means “to bow to” or “to adore.” Each Sun Salutation begins and ends with the joined-hands mudra (gesture) touched to the heart. This placement is no accident; only the heart can know the truth.

History Surya Namaskar

There’s some disagreement among authorities over the origins of the Sun Salutations. Traditionalists contend that the sequence is at least 2,500 years old, that it originated during Vedic times as a ritual prostration to the dawn. Skeptics of this dating maintain that Sun Salutation was invented by the Raja of Aundh in the early 20th century. However old the Sun Salutation is, and whatever it may originally have looked like, many variations have evolved over the years including the most well known variations of Surya Namaskar A and Surya Namaskar B as popularised by Pattabhi Jois in his system of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

A Daily Practice

Success with Sun Salutation, as with all aspects of yoga practice, depends on commitment and regularity. An everyday practice would be best, but you might at first aim for four times a week. Sun Salutations can be used as a warm up before the main bulk of your asanas but if time is short practicing Sun Salutations followed by savasana can be a complete yoga practice. You can practice anywhere for 3 – 108 rounds.

You can pace the sequence briskly to generate heat and cleanse the body-mind, or more moderately to create a moving meditation. Since the sequence is, in essence, a humble adoration of the light and insight of the self, it’s essential to practice Sun Salutation in a spirit of devotion and with your awareness turned always inward toward the heart. Make each movement as mindful and precise as possible, especially as you near the end of your rounds, when fatigue can lead to sloppiness.

Benefits of Surya Namaskar

The practice of Surya Namaskar has a myriad of benefits both in the long term and the immediate. In truth, the best way to understand these benefits is to discover them for yourself through a regular practice and reflection. Yet to summarise the commonly accepted benefits include: